Research fellow Richard Glassock has revealed futuristic designs for a motorbike which can be ridden normally and then attached to a plane and used to power its engine today (September 28) in Warsaw.

The bike is effectively a battery which could extend the flight time of the increasingly popular but limited distance all-electric aircraft.

Richard, who specialises in hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft at the Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT), said: “As aircraft of the future adopt more electrical systems, we need engineering solutions to overcome current limitations.

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The engine, generator, chassis and drive structure have a novel layout and the whole unit weighs no more than 125kg.

An artist's impression of the bike on a plane (Image: University of Nottingham press release)

The RExLite is a self-contained 40kW electrical generation power plant that provides up to three hours extra endurance.

Professor Herve Morvan, director of IAT said: “We are now living through exciting times in the aerospace industry, probably the most exciting times in two generations, as electrification offers a radical departure in propulsion and aircraft design, and we are delighted to contribute and demonstrate the research being done here.

“Richard’s project on range extenders is one example of the preliminary work we are carrying out in this area.”